Elsie Fisher, Regina King and Glenn Close pose during the 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards (Photo by Kevin Mazur/ Courtesy of Getty Images and Film Independent)

Barry Jenkins’ critically acclaimed drama If Beale Street Could Talk was the big winner at the 2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards. The drama, which didn’t earn Oscar nominations in either the Best Film or Best Director categories, picked up the Best Feature, Best Director and Best Supporting Female (Regina King) awards. Following close behind was Can You Ever Forgive Me? with two wins: Best Supporting Male (Richard E. Grant) and Best Screenplay (Nicole Holofcener and Jeff Whitty).

We the Animals went into the Spirit Awards with the most nominations, however it was shut out in all five of the categories in which it was nominated. Roma, the favorite to win the Best Picture Oscar, wasn’t nominated for a Best Film Spirit Award but it did win in the Best International Film category.

The annual awards honor the best in independent films with a much less formal ceremony than the glitzy Oscars. The Spirit Awards are held in a tent on the beach in Santa Monica the day prior to the Academy Awards. This year’s ceremony was hosted by Legion‘s Aubrey Plaza.

2019 Film Independent Spirit Awards Nominees and Winners

BEST FEATUREEighth Grade
First ReformedWINNER: If Beale Street Could Talk
Leave No Trace
You Were Never Really Here

BEST DOCUMENTARYHale County This Morning, This Evening
Minding the Gap
Of Fathers and Sons
On Her Shoulders
ShirkersWINNER: Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

BEST INTERNATIONAL FILMBurning
The Favourite
Happy as LazzaroWINNER: Roma
Shoplifters

BONNIE AWARD – Bonnie Tiburzi Caputo joined American Airlines in 1973 at age 24, becoming the first female pilot to fly for a major U.S. airline. In her honor, the second Bonnie Award will recognize a mid-career female director with a $50,000 unrestricted grant, sponsored by American Airlines.
– Debra Granik
– Tamara Jenkins
– Karyn Kusama

SOMEONE TO WATCH AWARD – The 25th annual Someone to Watch Award recognizes a talented filmmaker of singular vision who has not yet received appropriate recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
– Alex Moratto – Director of Sócrates
– Ioana Uricaru – Director of Lemonade
– Jeremiah Zagar – Director of We the Animals

TRUER THAN FICTION AWARD – The 24th annual Truer Than Fiction Award is presented to an emerging director of non-fiction features who has not yet received significant recognition. The award includes a $25,000 unrestricted grant.
– Alexandria Bombach – Director of On Her Shoulders
– Bing Liu – Director of Minding the Gap
– RaMell Ross – Director of Hale County This Morning, This Evening